Mary r



(No Model.) zsheets-shet 1.

G. C. BAKER, Decd.` M. R. BAKER, Administratrix.

SUBMARINE -TORPBDU BOAT. y No. 525,179. J7,]?a1,tesnted Aug. 28, 1894.

` @Mmm/m@ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. C. BAKBR,De0d.

M. R. BAKER, Adminisnramx. l SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT.

No. 525,179. Patented Aug. 28, 1894.v

SM1-@Mofa @M4/Lewes MMM/13o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C: BAKER,l OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; MARY R. BAKER ADMINIS- TRATRIXOF SAID yGEORGE C. BAKER, DECEASED.

SUBMARINE TORPEDO-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,179, dated August 28, 1894.

Original application liled March 14, 1893, Serial No. 465,983. Dividedand this application led September 25, 1893. Renewed July 10, 1894-Serial No. 517,156. (No model.)

to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which forma part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to a submarine boat which is capable of propulsionupon the surface of the Water, and which is also capable of motiondownwardly through the water or parallel with the surface, or of anupward motion, and is a divisional application of the application filedby me on the 14th of March, 1893, Serial N o. 465,983.

A feature of my invention is to provide a boat of this character whichis adapted to carry and discharge torpedoes with requisite precision.The propulsion and steering of the boat is preferably effected by theemploym'ent of the mechanism'designed for such purposes, which isdescribed and claimed in my Patent No. 358,425; but my presentimprovement is more particularly directed to the peculiar form orcontour of the hull, and the adaptation of the boat as a torpedo boat,and to this end I construct it upon peculiar lines and so combine itwith the propelling and steering apparatus that all the movements of theboat may be guided and controlled with the required certainty andaccuracy for discharging torpedoes eectively. It

is an essential requirement to adapt them to maintain a stationaryposition under water for greater or less periods of time, and that theymay be moved either forward or backward or upward or downward withoutliability to deiiection from the desired course.

My present invention provides a boat having all these capabilities andwhich isfconstructed on such lines that it forms the least possibleobstruction to its own passage through the water and no irregularitiesof outline which would interfere with its movement, either up or down,or through the water, or afford surfaces against which the water couldact to destroy its equilibrium or cause it to be deflected out of thedesired course. To this end the general outlines ofl the boat are of thegreatest importance and form a feature of my present invention. Torender the importance of the conformation of the vessel to lregularlines clear, I may observe that if the vessel were constructed with i aflat or deck top and with its bow, stern and keel upon curved lines, itsbow could not be forced into the water without very powerful machineryand the tendency of such avessel would be to raise out of the water, andtherefore there would exist with such a vessel a lconstant tendency tobe deflected out of its desired course for which its machinery was set.If, on the other hand, avessel were constructed with a fiat bottom and acovered deck, the tendency of such vessel would be to descend or dive.But by constructing the vessel upon uniform or regular lines terminatingat the bow and stern respectively, the boat is perfectly balanced,having neither a tendency to dip into nor to raise out of the waterexcept as inuenced by the propelling mechanism, and responding readilythereto so that it may be kept upon a predetermined and desired coursewith as much certainty while beneath the surface as a boat can besteered upon the surface.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of asubmarine boat embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the longitudinal line of the hull as the same would appear invertical, longitudinal, central section. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the ylongitudinal lines as the same would appear in horizontal,longitudinal central section. Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticview showing thetransverse lines of convergence; and Fig. 5 is a detailed view partly insection of one of the propellers and its accessories.

In carrying out my invention I construct the boat upon uniform lines thegeneral shape -or outline being elliptical and the bow and stern beingwedgeshaped. The vertical diroo.

ameter is preferably made greater than its horizontal diameter takenthrough the same point, and the outward longitudinal lines of the hullfrom bow to stern are substantially the same throughout the surfacethereof, or in other words, the portions of the boat above and below aplane` passing through its longitudinal center are in outlinesubstantially duplicates of each other, and the same is true of theportions of the boat on each side of a vertical plane passingtransversely through its middle.

The shell or body A of the boat may be constructed of any desiredmaterial or materials but I prefer to employ an inner wooden shellcovered with a wooden sheathing, or a structure formed of steel ribscovered by a sheathing of boiler or other suitable plate. The interiorframe work of the boat may be of a simple character as its general formmakes it self bracing.

The propelling apparatus is particularly shown in Fig. 5 and comprisesin the forms shown, the propeller blades C which are mounted upon shortshafts carried in sleeved bearings D which sleeve is rotatable upon themain driving shaft. Bevel gears mounted upon the respective ends of themain shaft and enmeshed with similar gears on the propeller shaftfurnish means whereby rotary motion may be imparted to the propellerblades.- Said sleeves are supported in collars D rigidly secured to theshell of the boat and provided with suitable glands of stufiing boxes toprevent entrance of water. The inner ends of the sleeves are providedwith suitable gearing, as for example, the worm gears `E which areturned by the worms F, the latter being arranged to be manipulatedpreferably from the pilots station. Obviously upon the rotation of theseworms in either direction the propellers may be moved in thearc of acircle around the driving gear, and hence the direction of movement ofthe boat is controlled by simply shifting the propellers with referenceto the driving shaft, and by such adjustment the boat may be drivenforward or backward upon the surface or below the surface of the water,or it may be drawn down into the water or caused to rise out of thewater and at any desired angle of movement. y The particular locationofthe propellers is of utmost importance in the operation of a submarineboat. If this propelling apparatus were placed nearer to one end of theboat than to the other the tendency to dive or rise out of the water,depending upon the location would be almost irresistible, but byarranging the propellers at or about the middle of the sides, theequilibrium is undisturbed by the action of the propellers.

B represents a conning tower which is arranged preferably in the upperportion of the shell of the boat, and has transparent sections throughwhich observations can be made.

I mount in some convenient portion of the boat, a torpedo tube or gunfor firing torpedoes, which are of a character to adapt them to bedischarged from a tube orgun mounted inside the boat, or in case it isdesired to serve a torpedo which is not adapted to be so discharged itmay be served from apparatus connected to the outside of the boat.

A boat constructed as above described can be used for a variety ofpurposes. For eX- ample, in the examination of wrecks; in inspecting thecharacter of the beds of lakes and other bodies of water; for thepurpose of locating' submarine structures; in the laying and inspectionof telegraphic and-other cables; and generally whereverit is desired toperform work below the surface of the water; but the chief object andaim of the invention is to 'provide a boat which shall be well adaptedas a war vessel and particularly designed for the discharge oftorpedoes.

The advantages of the boat above described for this last named purposeare perhaps sufficiently obvious as not to require extended mention.Attention is called tothe fact however that suihcient celerity ofmovement may be obtained with a comparatively low motive power becausethe shape of the boat presents but little obstruction to its propulsionthrough the water. The main feature however is the ability to perfectlycontrol the movements of the boat and to guide and direct it in anydesired course without defiection whereby accuracy may be obtained inthe discharging of torpedoes.

I claim- 1. The hull of a submarine boat substantially wedge-shaped atbow and stern, and whose vertical diameter is greater than itshorizontal diameter taken through the same point, the outwardlongitudinal lines of the hull from bow to stern being substan tiali ythe same throughout the surface thereof.

2. The hull of a submarine boat substantially wedge-shaped at bow andstern and whose vertical diameter is greater than its horizontaldiameter taken through the same point, the outward longitudinal lines ofthe hull from bow to stern being substantially the same throughout thesurface thereof, pro-` vided with adjustable propelling mechanismwhereby the movement of the boat in any direction is controlled.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. BAKER.

W'itnesses:

WILL T. NORTON, ARTHUR BROWNING.

IOO

